Here at Bungendore Vet Surgery we have several members of our furry family that are really showing the signs of age.

Nurse Kay has a beautiful, gentle old dog called ‘Jed.’ At over 50kg he’s doing incredibly well to be heading towards 14 years old. But there’s no doubt his joints give him plenty of grief and an ongoing battle with intermittent diarrhoea has been challenging.

Lucy is Dr. Michael’s ever-loyal Kelpie. She’s 2 weeks shy of her 17^th birthday and, whilst still enjoying life, simple daily tasks like getting up a few stairs, staying upright on a slippery floor and getting through the night without having an accident are becoming increasingly difficult.

Having on old pet, be it a dog, cat, horse or whoever your best mate is can an unbelievably rewarding  but, at the same time, present some challenges. It’s that time of their life where all those years of loyal companionship need to be repaid. When it comes to Jed and Lucy this definitely means some extra help up the stairs, a medicine cabinet that’s equipped with all they need and certainly running their beds regularly through the washing machine.

Every animal will age in a different way and you, like us, will have to navigate the ups and downs of this time in their life. Senses like sight and hearing can begin to fail and muscle mass and strength will decline, particularly if your pet suffers from any arthritis or neurological conditions. Leaking bladders are common, particularly in female animals and, we’re sorry to say, even the anal sphincter can become a little more … umm ‘loose’ than it once was.

And when you’re old there is a much higher chance that disease will develop. Kidneys and livers can start to malfunction, whilst endocrine diseases such as diabetes, Cushings disease and thyroid disease may need to be diagnosed and managed. Even a dreaded cancer diagnosis is much more likely as an animal gets older.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is nothing more joyous than your old moggy purring and snoozing on your lap. Or your geriatric dog still lighting up when the tennis ball comes out (albeit with a little less coordination than previously). And how fun to watch your now paddock-ornament pony get a little jiggy up when an apple is on the menu.

It is also that time when you may really need to get to know your vet. And it’s amazing the personal bonds we develop with not only our patients but also their owners throughout this time. As I write these paragraphs I’m very reflective on this as in the past week we have said goodbye to some wonderful patients (with exceptionally committed owners) who have had very difficult challenges through their old age. It has truly been a privilege to see the little triumphs in managing their conditions and keeping them as happy as we can. But in some patients good health simply cannot last and goodbyes will never get any easier.